Well the above title says it all. All I will ever use a shaper for is bullnosing 3/4” MDF adjustable shelves. Do I really need a shaper for this or should I buy a good router, invert it, and build a table?

7 replies so far

Shapers are for production – day-in, day-out, everyday use. They’re stationary equipment – they are expensive to purchase, with expensive cutter heads and fewer cuts per inch (slower induction motors).

Regarding buying of building a table – this is a personal choice, and depends on how much time you have, you’re skill level, desire to take on a project like this. There are several top-rated tables – Incra, Kreg, JessEm; any one of which will last a lifetime and provide incredible precision. I built mine, just because I wanted to achieve it – it cost me more and took longer to build – but it is part of my journey to incremental skills.

Buy a good 2.25hp (12 amp) router, if you need to purchase a router – this is the sweet spot for manufacturers, and there are 15 good ones to choose from. Resist the temptation to go 3+hp (15 amps), these machines are more expensive, much heavier, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever need the additional power. Recommended routers are Porter-Cable 895 or Bosch, but everyone has a favorite.

MDF machines easy. A router is fine. The MDF dust gettingin the motor may wear out the router faster than normalin inverted use. If you want the router to last longer, turnit sideways so the dust doesn’t fall in.

Because you can use it hand-held, a router is more versatile, and it’s definitely capable for your task. Some router tables, particularly those with lifts, cost as much as a shaper, so why not buy a shaper? Shaper cutters can cost considerably more than router bits, though they last longer so are cost effective if you use them enough.

A small older shaper (Delta, Atlas, Craftsman…) with a 1/2” spindle is actually a bit less capable than a big router, not to mention a bigger shaper, but can work very well for edge treatments. It’s so much quieter than a router that some find them very pleasing, myself included.

Get a router first, but if you are interested in “old iron”, a shaper is a perfectly reasonable choice. I’d agree that production mode would be the main reason to need a new one.